Sheep-rack



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. WEBB, OF EAST TROY, VVISOONSIN.

SHEEP-RACK.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 44,478, dated September 27, 1864.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT L. WEBB, of East Troy, Valworth county, State of Wisconsin, have invented an Improved Back for Feeding Sheep and I hereby declare the following` to be a full and accurate description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, making a part of this specification.

The drawing represents a portion ofthe rack in perspective, in which- A A are the cross-legs, forming the end of the rack. B B is a cross-frame which supports the roof and strengthens the rack. O O are ribs framed into the top of the crosslegs, eX- tending the entire length of the rack. D D are upright slats nailed to the ribs at the top and to the troughs at the bottom. E E are slats which form the rack, the upper end being inserted in the ribs and the lower end in the bed-piece F F. R is the roof over the rack, and X the roof over the sheep. Y is a scraper Vfor cleaning out the troughs.

The roof B may be hung at the lower edge with ordinary butt-hin ges ofsuflicient strength so that it may be opened for the purpose of putting in the feed.

The lower roof, X, should be hung with a loose-joint77 hinge, (one style of which is shown in Fig. 3, and which may be made of iron or wood,) so that by sliding the roof endwise it may be removed at pleasure. It may be hung an inch or two lower than the upper roof to prevent the latter from binding when opened.

The lower roof should be let down against the side ofthe rack While putting in the feed to prevent the sheep from crowding and injuring each other.

A convenient size for practical use is found to be about fourteen feet in length, divided into fourteen or fifteen stalls on each side.

The dimensions ofthe timber may be as follows: cross-legs three by three,' length four feet eight inches; outside Width at top, two and a half feet; ribs, two by four, length fourteen feet; bed-piece, three by three, length fourteen feet; slats, three inches Wide, two feet long 5 rods composing inner rack three inches apart.

The advantages of this rack are that the sheep cannot crowd each other away from the feed, nor pick over the fodder, nor get it under their feet, cleanliness ot' the iieece, as no dirt can fall into the wool, a saving of every particle of fodder in the troughs, its convenience for feeding with grain or vegetables, and protection against storm both to the animals and the feed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The cross-legs A A, feed-racks E E, guard D, roofs R and X, troughv T, and scraper Y, the several being constructed, arranged, and operated substantially as and for the purpose specified.

A. L. WEBB. Witnesses:

MARTIN FIELD, LoEIN ANGHEW. 

